Champa
Michelia champaca
📖 About this plant
Michelia champaca (champak or ‘Champa’ in Odia/Hindi) is a large evergreen tree of the Annonaceae (Magnoliaceae) family, prized for its intensely fragrant golden-yellow flowers. The tree is sacred in Hinduism and Buddhism — flowers are used in temple worship and for making perfumes and essential oils (champaca attar). Wood is used for furniture and construction. The tree is the state flower of Madhya Pradesh. Champaca essential oil is one of the most expensive perfumery ingredients in the world. The tree is naturally found in the forests of northeast India, Western Ghats, and Southeast Asia.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Partial shade to full sun
Regular; keep moist
High
15-32°C
Well-draining loam rich in organic matter
Compost annually; balanced NPK in spring
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- India, Southeast Asia
- 📏 Max height
- 15-30 m
- 📐 Spread
- 6-10 m
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Summer (golden-yellow fragrant flowers)
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Golden-yellow to orange
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Evergreen large lanceolate dark green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- 100+ years
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic
- 🌱 Propagation
- Seeds, cuttings, grafting
🛡️ Health & Safety
Non-toxic
Common issues
- Leaf spot, scale insects, sooty mould
💡 Care tips
- Plant in rich organic soil with regular water. Fragrant flowers prized for perfumery. Slow-growing but long-lived.